Electric furnace.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

y E. P. PRICE. ELECTRIC PURNACB.

APPLITION FILED NOV. 14.1905.

inventor:-

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

EDGAR F. PRICE, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR.` BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CENTRAL TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, TRUSTEE, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRIC FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5. 1908.

Application filed November 14, 1905. Serial No. 287,345.

ceives the molten product and is shifted to withdraw its contents from the product remaining in the furnace. A series of separate receptacles is employed, each serving in turn as the hearth or crucible of the furnace.

Referring to the accom anying drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudina vertical section of the furnace on the line 1--1 of Fig. 2 Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The furnace shown in Figs. 1, 2 comprises a stationary, vertical smelting chamber having side walls l of refractory materialy such as magnesia or siloXicon fircbrick, surrounded by a water-jacket 2. Beneath and support- .ing the firebrick is a base-plate 3, which preferably consists of a rectangular steel casting, containing a water chamber. This baseplate has a rectangular central opening which is in alinement with the downwardlyconverging lower portion of the iirebrick walls. The base-plate is supported on piers 4. `Above the furnace and depending into .the smelting chamber is a metal hood 5, the

upper end of which is closed by a plate 6 having parallel openings 7 which receive the holders and terminals 8, S of the electrodes 9, Q. A layer 10 of insulating rr-rfractory material is in terposcd between the electrode holders andthe walls o'l' the o pcnings. Pipes ll, 12 for supplying the charge-inaterials and delivering the Yreaction gases extend through the top-plate.

,Beneath the smelting chamber and movably supported on a metal plate 13 having side flanges is a series of separate receptac 1 14. -Each of these receptacles preferably consists of a rectangular water-cooled steel casting having inclosing sid es an d a refractory lining. Each receptacle when moved into alinement with the rectangular opening in the base-plate 3, constitutes the hearth or crucible of the furnace. The transverse adjacent edgesv of the several rece tacles are in contact and the upper edges o' the receptacles are fiat and smooth and fit closely against the lower fiat smooth face of the base-plate 3.

In. employing this furnace for thev production, for exam le, of calcium carbid, chargernaterials are ed into the hood and thence by electric arcs, as in the vgell known Horry furnace, the electrodes 9, 9 being of opposite polarity. The reduced carbid gradually accumulates in the receptacle 14 which is beneath the smelting chamber and when this receptacle is filled it is moved out from beneath the furnace and the adjacent receptacle is simultaneously moved into position to receive another body of carbid. The filled receptacles are discharged as they leave the furnace, as by inverting them, and are then ready for further use. The movement of the receptacles may be effected either by applying pressure to the empty receptacles at one end of the series, or by connecting the several receptacles and applying traction to the filled receptacle lat the other end of the series. tute an endless chain. f

I claim l. An electric furnace, comprising a smelting chamber having a. discharge opening, and a receptacle having inclosing sides, said rcceptacle arranged to receive the molten furnace-product and act as a bottom for the furnace, and being moval le transversely across said discharge opening.

2. in electric furnace, comprising a smelting chainber'having a discharge opening, and a plurality of separate incloscd receptacles movable transversely across said opening and arranged to retain a molten body within said chamber.

3. An electric furnace, comprising a smelting cl'iamber having a discharge opening, and a plurality' oi' separate inclosed abutting receptacles movable transversely across said opening and arranged to retain a molten body within said chamber.

1l. An electric furnace, comprising a smeltl ing chamber having an open bottom, and a into theworking chamber and are smeltedv If desired, the receptacles may constireceptacle having inclosing sides, said receptacle arranged to receive the molten-furnace product and act as a bottom for the furnace, and being movable transversely across said discharge opening.

5. An electric furnace, comprisinga smelting chamber having an open bottom, and a plurality of separate inclosed receptacles movable transversely beneath and across said bottom and arranged to retain a molten body Within said chamber.

6. An electric furnace, comprising a smelting chamber having an open bottom, and a plurality of separate inclosed abutting recejrlacles movable transversely beneath and across said bottom and arranged to retain a molten body Within said chamber.

7 An electric furnace, comprising a smelting chamber having an open bottom, electrodes extending into said chamber, and a receptacle having inclosed sides, said receptacle arranged to receive the molten furnaceproduct and act as a bottoni for the furnace,

and being movable transversely across said discharge opening.

8. An electric furnace, comprising a smelting chamber having an open bottom, electrodes extending into said chamber, and a plurality of separate inclosed receptacles movable transversely beneath and across said bottom and arranged to retain a molt-en EDGAR F. PRICE. Witnesses G. E. Cox, D. BURGEss. 

